MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY,HELD AT CAPE TOWN ON 17 May 1969

Earle, R.A. &; Oatley, T.B. 1983. Populations, ecology and breeding of the Orange Thrush at two sites in eastern South Africa. Ostrich 54:205-212.

The two populations of the Orange Thrush Turdus gurneyi studied represented two races, the nominate gurneyi in Natal and disruptans in Transvaal. In the Transvaal there was a large influx of individuals during the winter but numbers stayed constant during the breeding season with one pair/ha. Natal birds were more sedentary. Food seemed to be a major factor in regulating the winter population size of both the Orange Thrush and the Olive Thrush T. olivaceus in the Transvaal forest as the number of earthworms showed a peak just before the bird numbers peaked. In Natal the Orange Thrush showed a higher degree of specialization in diet than the Olive Thrush which his a mixed diet. Clutches consisted of two eggs and incubation lasted IS days. Chicks were brooded frequently, virtually to the time of fledging, thus protecting them from the cool, wet conditions of the forest. The nestling period was 15–18 days. The Orange Thrush preferred areas in the forest where little vegetation occurred at 1,0-1,5 m and where a good layer of leaf litter was present.     

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY,HELD AT CAPE TOWN, 26 JUNE 1959

Brown, C. J. 1989. Plumages and measurements of the Bearded Vulture in southern Africa. Ostrich 60: 165–171.

Four different age classes of the southern African Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus are recognized and their plumages described: juvenile (3–24 months old), immature (24–45 months), subadult (45–60 months) and adult (60+ months). There was no significant difference in size between adult male and female birds. Adults were larger than juvenile birds in bill width, beard length, wingspan and mass, and had a higher aspect ratio and wing loading, while juvenile birds were larger than adults in the length of their outer rectrices, tail area, wing breadth and wing area. These features are considered to be adaptive to young birds inexperienced in flying. Immature and subadult birds were intermediate in size between juveniles and adults. Bearded Vultures differ from other large raptors in two sets of physical characteristics, (a) those adapted to cold, mountainous habitat, e.g. feathered head and face, unusually long wings, a high aspect ratio and a particularly long tail, and (b) those adapted to their diet of mainly bones, e.g. wide gape, beard and relatively long talons for carrying food.     

MINUTES OF THE FORTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY HELD AT JOHANNESBURG AT 2.00 P.M. ON SATURDAY 19 JUNE 1976

Many duetting species are monomorphic and the suggestion has recently been made that duets may be female-led more often than has been supposed in the past. Observations were carried out on several marked individuals of two monomorphic duetting species, the Moho, Hypergerus atriceps, and Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Laniarius barbarus, in The Gambia. DNA analysis from blood samples revealed that in each case the male was the pair member that normally led the duet. It is suggested that duets of this sort may arise where it benefits a male to attract more than one female, but it is to the female's disadvantage that he should do so.     

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOUTH AFRICA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY,HELD IN DURBAN ON 11th May 1968

Raseroka, B. H. 1975. Breeding of the Hadedah Ibis. Ostrich 46:208-212.

The Hadedah Ibis Lostrychia hagedash is a common species in the Eastern Cape Province. Nest construction and nesting are described. Normally three eggs are laid, but survival of the nestlings until they can leave the nest is low.